The genin didn't show anything unusual, but I was rather bored watching the kunoichi circling the range, exchanging quick kunai strikes, breaking the distance to exchange iron, and only occasionally using techniques. Given their meager repertoire, as with any genin, it didn't look good - they would have been better off using the spent chakra for their own enhancement and acceleration.
As it was, the small fireballs bumped into small stone walls and were of no use, and both kunoichi were exhausted rather quickly. After a dozen minutes, the female student made a rather bad mistake and Sakura didn't fail to take her chance, accelerating sharply and slashing her opponent across the throat. Considering the considerable acceleration, she appeared to be not as tired as she was showing everyone.
- "The winner is Sakura," I raised my hand, not paying too much attention to the whimpering student on the ground, healing the area of the 'wound' with her hands, "it'll be gone in a minute.
In general, this was the result I had expected, except that I had expected a quicker victory for the captive - they were about equal in physical parameters, with Hoshi having a slightly greater advantage (physical training without chakra had paid off), but the year of difference and participation in the war still played their part, despite the student's greater technique in taijutsu.
I guess I'll have to prioritize the use of techniques in combat when I can do without them. After all, the girls aren't Uzumaki, so I don't really care about chakra expenditure in combat - I've been focusing on bringing the students' performance up to the level of their clan peers, but I've somehow missed that aspect of it and started measuring myself. The only thing Hoshi did well was the use of the throwing iron, managing to unpleasantly graze her opponent a couple times.
After sharing a bit of chakra with the Iwa kunoichi, I let her take a break and sent her off to fight Asani. The result was the same, but the apprentice was able to give Sakura a good thrashing and nearly ended the fight a couple of times, preferring to stay at close range and use more skill in hand-to-hand combat than in throwing.
- Well, you've done well enough," I began, giving the kunoichi a moment to catch her breath, "so now we'll discuss your mistakes and possible tactics, and then we'll start over again-if you can't win at least once in a fight by the end of the day, no new jutsu for the next six months.
I was answered with a double cry of indignation, but I paid no attention to it - it was useless to threaten to increase the workload, and the spectacular techniques of the students were still looked at, as well as all genin, and the vast majority of chunin too.
I've got more interesting stuff on patreon (+ 200 chapter)
patreon.com/Chill76